On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 05:29:33 +0100, Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> Origami UMPCs are a disaster
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Microsoft's Origami Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) is looking like the company's
>| biggest flop since Windows ME. Fortunately for Microsoft, it's not paying
>| for this mistake, you are, if you buy one now.
> `----
>
> http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=32339
People just don't seem to get it. It's not *FOR* people that want Laptops,
and it's not *FOR* people that want PDA's. Everyone reviewing it as either
of them is evaluating it from the wrong frame of mind, and will certianly
dissapoint you because it's not what you want.
If you talk to tablet PC people, then you might actually understand. One
of the big problems with Tablet PC's is that they're simply too big and
bulky to carry around. The origami isn't a PDA, but it's not a monster
Tablet PC either.
The battery life issue is not that bad either, since you can easily move it
from your desktop docking station, use it on the train or airplane, then
plug it into your car or home. If you're in a coffee shop, you can plug it
in as well. Pretty much anywhere you'd be using Wifi would also offer the
opportunity for power as well. And if you needed extended battery life
occasionally, i'm sure someone will come out with an external extended
battery (like they do for iPods). The weight issue is ridiculous. 1.9
pounds is ridiculously light for a device as capable as this. The Pepper
Pad, for instance, weighs inat 2.2lbs and has less memory, smaller hard
drives, and a slower processor.
I have a monster 17" laptop I use for various things. This is just too big
to carry around conveniently. An origami becomes a middle ground device.
I can read e-books in bed with it, I can remote desktop to my PC with it
(there's a nice detachable keyboard available for the Samsung Q1, for
instance, complete with carrying case).
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13506&type=page&skuId=7878852&productId=1149040727098&viewtype=angleView&h=387.com
So, smaller than a laptop, easily portable, touch screen/stylus, keyboard,
etc.. it's damn good for me.
Yeah, i'd like the battery life to be longer, and i'll likely wait for the
refresh design that utilizes LED backlights instead of the Cold Cathode
Flourescent, but frankly other than battery life, none of the complaints
i've read in various articles make any sense to someone that is the target
audience of these.
They're *NOT* a laptop. They're *NOT* a PDA. I have a laptop, and I don't
want a PDA because it's too small and doesn't run full featured desktop
apps.
That's not to say they couldn't refine them a bit more. Newer processors
coming down the pipe will be lower power consumption. And better screens
will likely come along as well with better resolution.
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